Saw blade

Abstract

A reciprocating saw blade includes a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a plunge point formed on the second end portion of the body. The plunge point includes a leading tooth and a leading gullet. The leading tooth includes a rake face and a tip. The leading gullet includes a base extending from the rake face of the leading tooth to the plurality of cutting teeth. The plunge point includes a second tooth protruding from the base of the leading gullet. The second tooth includes a tip positioned further from the base of the leading gullet than the tip of the second tooth in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body. The cutting portion also includes a plurality of gullets formed between a plurality of cutting teeth. The leading gullet is larger than each gullet of the plurality of gullets.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A reciprocating saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw, the reciprocating saw blade comprising:
 a body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the body defining a longitudinal axis; 
 an attachment portion coupled to the first end portion of the body, the attachment portion including a tang and an aperture configured to couple to the reciprocating saw; 
 a cutting portion formed on the body, the cutting portion including a plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth including a tip, a rake face, and a relief surface, each tip being an apex of the corresponding cutting tooth; and 
 a plunge point formed on the second end portion of the body for initiating a plunge cut, the plunge point including a leading tooth and a leading gullet, the leading tooth including a rake face and a tip that is an apex of the leading tooth, the leading gullet including a base extending from the rake face of the leading tooth to the plurality of cutting teeth, the plunge point also including a second tooth protruding from the base of the leading gullet, the second tooth being positioned closer to the leading tooth than to a nearest cutting tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth, the second tooth including a tip that is an apex of the second tooth; 
 wherein the tip of the leading tooth is positioned further from the base of the leading gullet than the tip of the second tooth in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; and 
 wherein the cutting portion also includes a plurality of gullets formed between the plurality of cutting teeth, and wherein the leading gullet is larger than each gullet of the plurality of gullets. 
 
     
     
       2. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second tooth includes a rake face, and wherein a length of the rake face of the leading tooth is greater than a length of the rake face of the second tooth in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       3. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the leading tooth and the second tooth of the plunge point are in line with the plurality of cutting teeth of the cutting portion to form a linear cutting edge. 
     
     
       4. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second tooth is the only tooth positioned within the leading gullet between the leading tooth and the plurality of cutting teeth. 
     
     
       5. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the leading gullet is at least twice as large as each gullet of the plurality of gullets. 
     
     
       6. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 5 , wherein the leading gullet is approximately four times larger than each gullet of the plurality of gullets. 
     
     
       7. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein each cutting tooth has a first utmost width measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the leading tooth has a second utmost width measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the second tooth has a third utmost width measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third utmost width is less than the first utmost width and the second utmost width. 
     
     
       8. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio between a distance from the tip of the leading tooth to the tip of the nearest cutting tooth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a distance between the tips of adjacent cutting teeth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, is approximately 2.0. 
     
     
       9. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio between a distance from the tip of the leading tooth to the tip of the nearest cutting tooth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a distance from the tip of the leading tooth to the tip of the second tooth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, is approximately 6.6. 
     
     
       10. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio between a distance from the tip of the leading tooth to the tip of the second tooth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a distance between the tips of adjacent cutting teeth, measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, is approximately 0.3. 
     
     
       11. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the second tooth is generally triangular-shaped. 
     
     
       12. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tips of the plurality of cutting teeth define a plane, and wherein the tip of the second tooth is spaced apart from the plane. 
     
     
       13. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 12 , wherein the tip of the leading tooth also defines the plane. 
     
     
       14. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 12 , wherein the second tooth includes a rake face extending generally toward the longitudinal axis, and wherein a first angle between the plane and the rake face of the second tooth, measured through the second tooth, is greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       15. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 14 , wherein the first angle is approximately 95 to 105 degrees. 
     
     
       16. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 14 , wherein a second angle between the plane and the rake face of each cutting tooth, measured through the corresponding cutting tooth, is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       17. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 14 , wherein a third angle between the plane and the rake face of the leading tooth, measured through the leading tooth, is greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       18. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 12 , wherein the leading tooth includes a relief surface extending from the tip of the leading tooth to an end of the body. 
     
     
       19. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 18 , wherein the end of the body is generally rounded. 
     
     
       20. The reciprocating saw blade of  claim 19 , wherein a first angle between the plane and the relief surface of the leading tooth is at least twice as large as a second angle between the plane and the relief surface of each cutting tooth.